The floors are covered with recycled carpet, the walls lined with recycled cabinets. And glass windows make up much of the east side of the building, providing abundant natural lighting. The pulpit is carved from a tree felled in a hurricane.
Those are just a few of the upgrades that helped the Umstead Park United Church of Christ earn a gold LEED rating for its building.
The church paid $1.65 million, and its minister, Doug Long, says it will save that money in the long run.
Read the full story at newsobserver.com.